Palworld Reaches 32 Million Players, Faces Nintendo Lawsuit

Palworld, the crafting and survival game dubbed "Pokémon with guns," has achieved remarkable success since its January 2024 early access launch, attracting over 32 million players across PC (Steam), Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Developer Pocketpair expressed gratitude for this overwhelming support, promising continued efforts to enhance Palworld in its second year.

The game's launch was a phenomenal success, breaking sales and concurrent player records. The initial surge in popularity proved so significant that Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, stated the company was initially overwhelmed by the game's massive profits. Capitalizing on this success, Pocketpair partnered with Sony to establish Palworld Entertainment, focusing on expanding the IP and further platform releases like the PS5 launch.

However, this success is overshadowed by a high-profile patent lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Following Palworld's launch, comparisons to Pokémon were inevitable, leading to accusations of design similarities. Instead of a copyright infringement suit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company pursued a patent infringement claim, seeking 5 million yen (approximately $32,846) each, plus damages and an injunction.

Pocketpair acknowledged the three Japanese patents in question, which center around the mechanic of capturing creatures in a virtual field—a mechanic present in Palworld's Pal Sphere system, similar to that in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Interestingly, Pocketpair recently altered the Pal summoning mechanic, prompting speculation about its connection to the lawsuit. Patent experts view the lawsuit as a testament to Palworld's significant threat to established franchises.

Despite the legal battle, Pocketpair remains committed to updating Palworld and has even pursued collaborations with other major video game titles, including a recent crossover with Terraria. The company has publicly declared its intention to vigorously defend its position in court. The outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain, with both parties prepared for a protracted legal fight.